Franz Josef to Middle of Nowhere

Sunday, 9 November

Franz Josef Glacier to Kurianga (35km south of Fox) - Pine Grove Motels

This post comes with a warning. There are no pics as I didn't take any today, and this is more of a "contemplative" post. So read as much or as little of this one as you like. :)

Today I got a 9am start – overcast weather and not a big day ahead of me (only about 60km planned), but there were 3 steep climbs right in the first 20km between Franz and Fox glaciers, so I wanted to get on the road early to beat any potential weather.

The hills were no big deal. Yes, while climbing them I’m sweating and more or less mentally chanting positive phrases and Bible verses about strength and how I can do all things… haha. But I just keep telling myself it’s just a CrossFit session and I got this. And you know, as painful as it is sometimes on the way up, I always make it to the top! There’s a life metaphor in there somewhere…

After the initial 20km, the remainder of the day was super easy and fun cause I could ride fast - pretty much downhill from there! I stopped at Fox Glacier for a coffee and lunch - it’s smaller and quieter than Franz – but kept going after that cause it looked like rain. Rain isn’t a big deal…in Cambodia where it’s warm! Ha. Here, when it’s cold, it’s fine. When it’s rainy and warm, it’s fine. But when it’s cold AND rainy and I have a whole day ahead of me… that’s my hardest mental (and physical) battle. It’s the weather! Forget the hills!

But the rest of the ride was fine, and I made really good time to the place I was aiming for. A little “motel” in the middle of literally nowhere. It had great reviews and it was absolutely perfect for that afternoon. I arrived at 2pm-ish and I was nearly the only one there. I got a tiny little cabin with a space heater(!) and the most comfortable bed ever, and it was cute, quiet and cozy. No internet access, no cell phone service, it was perfect.

I took a shower, then a nap, and then spent the rest of the afternoon reading the book Through Gates of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliot – been meaning to get to this book for a long time – and then the rest of the evening I spent just by myself, reflecting on the last five weeks and talking to God about stuff. This weekend all of the sudden I realized how quickly the last five weeks have gone by and how much I have just been racing through “seeing and doing.” This weekend I got this sense of awareness that I needed to slow down for a bit. There are three precious weeks left before I go back to work and life and busyness that actually involves other people and things I’m responsible for – and right now I am free from them!

Before I arrived in New Zealand, 6 weeks on my own seemed like a lot of time. I figured I would be lonely at times, expected to have a day or two with tears of frustration during difficult circumstances, and was prepared to deal with all kinds of challenges on the road. You know, so far I’ve never felt lonely (I guess generally speaking I rarely to almost never do…); to date I’ve not had a flat tire yet (I did have gear issues but thankfully learned from a guy how to fix it when I was in a city, so managed to take care of that when I was alone and in the middle of nowhere!); and I’ve had no tears (other than some good praying tears) J.  These last weeks have whizzed by – quite literally – and on Sunday when I arrived to my little cabin in the middle of nowhere with no internet and nothing to do other than read and pray and be by myself, I realized how much I was craving that alone time – true alone time – with God to worship, reflect and look forward.

So I got some of that time at the little cabin Sunday, and I made a conscious decision to get more of it this week. My dad flies in Saturday into Queenstown. Cannot WAIT! For those of you who don’t already know this, my dad is the person I love and respect most in the world. I want to make sure that my expectations are right and clear before our time together begins – and that I am able to share with my dad all that I want to while he’s here, and we get to talk about the things that are important to both of us while we’re together. I’m excited to share with him (with you dad!) life on the road in NZ and catch up on life since January! J

I also wanted to think about what’s next for me in Cambodia. In the coming months I’ll be back at iDE with the latrine dream team, and beyond that, who knows?! I’m excited for this year and the changes it will bring. I want to start to study Khmer formally again (if you’re reading this, please hold me accountable to this one!). It can only help as I continue to live in PP.  I also want to upgrade my house… I want to have an extra room to host people – touring cyclists as they pass through PP, and anyone who needs a place to stay. I’ve thought about this for years, and now given my experience with Warmshowers – both hosting and being hosted (thank you thank you THANK YOU all you Warmshowers people and others who have hosted me – you have all been incredible and such a big part of my trip!) – so perhaps it’s time to make a move!

So that wraps up my quiet, rejuvenating afternoon and day with no pictures. J

Oh, another thing I realized upon further reflection is that I need to equip my house with a proper kettle, asap. How have I lived so long without one?!